U.S. Città di Palermo season 2008-09
Encyclopedia
U.S. Città di Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...

spent the season 2008–09
2008-09 in Italian football
The 2008–2009 season will be the 107th season of competitive football in Italy.-Overview:* Chievo will make their return to Serie A after just one season in the second tier.* Sassuolo will make their debut in Serie B.-Events:...

in the Serie A
Serie A 2008-09
The 2008–09 Serie A was the seventy-seventh season since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the list of fixtures made on 25 July 2008...

, the fifth season in a row for the Sicilian club in the Italian top flight since their return to the league in 2004.

Review and events

For the upcoming season, Palermo are expected to confirm Stefano Colantuono
Stefano Colantuono
Stefano Colantuono is an Italian football manager, currently in charge as head coach of Atalanta.-Playing career:...

 as head coach. A number of signings were completed in mid-season, namely Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

ian striker Túlio de Melo
Túlio de Melo
Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo , commonly known as Túlio de Melo, is a Brazilian football striker who currently plays for Lille OSC in the French Ligue 1.- Early career & Breakthrough :...

 of Le Mans UC72
Le Mans UC72
Le Mans Football Club is a French association football club based in Le Mans. The club was founded in 1985 as a result of a merger under the name Le Mans Union Club 72. In 2010, Le Mans changed its name to Le Mans FC to coincide with the re-modeling of the club, which includes moving into a new...

 (free transfer), and young Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

 defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 Simon Kjær
Simon Kjær
Simon Thorup Kjær is a Danish professional football player, who plays as a centre back for Roma. He was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year and 2009 Danish Talent of the Year, and has played 20 games for the Denmark national football team.-FC Midtjylland:Born in Horsens, Kjær started...

 from FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...

; these are expected to be joined by a number of loan and co-ownership returns, such as Hernan Dellafiore from Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....

. On May 28, Palermo announced to have signed Empoli
Empoli F.C.
Empoli Football Club is an Italian association football club located in Empoli, Tuscany, founded in 1920 and played its first official match in 1921.In recent years, the club has all too often been bouncing between Italy's two top divisions...

 defender Andrea Raggi
Andrea Raggi
Andrea Raggi is an Italian football defender, currently playing for Bologna.-Empoli:He started his footballing career with Empoli, where he spent a total of four seasons with the first team.-Palermo:...

 in a full transfer. Two days later, the rosanero also finalized the signing of former Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

 midfielder Fabio Liverani
Fabio Liverani
Fabio Liverani is an Italian football coach and former midfielder of partial Somali descent, currently working as youth coach of Genoa.-Club career:...

. On June 5 Palermo announced on their website to have finalized the signing of Italy national football team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...

 and A.S. Livorno Calcio
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...

 goalkeeper Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.-Early career:Amelia grew up as part of the Roma youth system...

.

On June 19, Palermo announced to have re-signed Croatian
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...

 striker Igor Budan
Igor Budan
Igor Budan is a Croatian football striker currently playing with U.S. Città di Palermo in Italy.-Career:Budan played for his native NK Rijeka for two seasons before moving to Italy in 1999. He was one of the players transferred to Palermo from Venezia in 2002 by Maurizio Zamparini...

 from Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...

 and Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...

 defender Cesare Bovo
Cesare Bovo
Cesare Bovo is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Genoa.-Lecce & youth career:Bovo grew up playing in the renowned AS Roma youth system, and was sold on a co-ownership bid to Serie B club Lecce in the 2002/2003 season, which Bovo was exchanged with Mauro Rizzo who both...

, the latter in exchange with long-time rosanero Giuseppe Biava
Giuseppe Biava
Giuseppe Biava is an Italian footballer, who currently plays as a centre back for Serie A side Lazio.-AlbinoLeffe:A centre back, Biava started his career with the Leffe youth team, before moving to newly-promoted Serie D team Albinese in 1995...

. Six days later, the club completed the signing of Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...

 centre-back Moris Carrozzieri
Moris Carrozzieri
Moris Carrozzieri is an Italian who currently plays as a football defender for Lecce.-Early career:Carrozzieri started his professional career at A.S. Bari...

. On July 1, the club finalized the signing of Davide Lanzafame
Davide Lanzafame
Davide Lanzafame is an Italian football striker/winger, who currently plays for Calcio Catania, in a co-ownership with Palermo, in the Italian Serie A.-Juventus:...

 from Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

 in a co-ownership bid.

In addition, Palermo-born Giovanni Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco is an Italian former footballer in the role of centre midfielder, currently in charge as youth coach of U.S. Città di Palermo.-Club career:...

 and 41-year-old keeper Alberto Fontana have agreed a one-year contract extension.

On the other hand, a number of transfer were completed, with Amauri sold to Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

 (and Antonio Nocerino
Antonio Nocerino
Antonio Nocerino is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Milan and the Italian national team.-Juventus and early career:...

 being signed by Palermo as part of the deal), Leandro Rinaudo
Leandro Rinaudo
Leandro Rinaudo is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club S.S.C. Napoli.-Palermo:A youth product of Palermo, he was loaned to Serie C1 club Varese in the first year of Zamparini's era. The loan was pre-matured in January 2003. However he failed to enter the first team as Zamparini bought...

 transferred to Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

 and Italian internationals Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A club Parma...

 and Andrea Barzagli
Andrea Barzagli
Andrea Barzagli, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Juventus.- Club career :...

 signed by German side VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...

;

Palermo's pre-season phase will begin on July 14 to the training camp of Bad Kleinkirchheim
Bad Kleinkirchheim
Bad Kleinkirchheim is a municipality in Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia, Austria. Until the middle of the 20th century, agriculture was the dominant focus, but it is now a renowned spa and ski resort...

, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

. They then moved to another camp in Levico Terme
Levico Terme
Levico Terme is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 15 km southeast of Trento...

 on August 1, then playing a friendly match in Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...

 against the local German Bundesliga team
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...

.

Palermo started their season with a surprise 1–2 home loss to Ravenna
Ravenna Calcio
Ravenna Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1913 and refounded in 2001....

, a Lega Pro Prima Divisione team (two divisions below Serie A). Successively, Zamparini confirmed the intention to sell out newly acquired striker Túlio de Melo
Túlio de Melo
Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo , commonly known as Túlio de Melo, is a Brazilian football striker who currently plays for Lille OSC in the French Ligue 1.- Early career & Breakthrough :...

, citing the impossibility to ensure the player a guaranteed place in the starting lineup as he wanted. In the meantime, on August 30, and just a few hours before the rosaneros kickoff league match, Palermo announced the signing of 18-year old striker Levan Mchedlidze
Levan Mchedlidze
Levan Mchedlidze is a Georgian professional football player who is currently playing with Italian club Empoli.- Career :...

 on a loan basis. The next day, Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...

 confirmed to have finalized the permanent signing of Túlio de Melo from Palermo. On September 1 Palermo completed the signing of Davide Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

 from Ravenna, and loaned out Boško Janković
Boško Jankovic
Boško Janković is a Serbian football player currently a free agent playing for the Serbia national football team. He is at his best going forward and is equally at home playing in the centre or either wing...

 to Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...

. Both moves were finalized following several unsuccessful attempts to sign Brazilian
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...

 international striker Nilmar from Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...

, as confirmed in a club statement.

The very next day saw notable criticism from supporters and local and national media regarding the club strategy in the football market, especially underlining the lack of an appropriate replacement to local hero Amauri and the controversial sale of Túlio de Melo
Túlio de Melo
Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo , commonly known as Túlio de Melo, is a Brazilian football striker who currently plays for Lille OSC in the French Ligue 1.- Early career & Breakthrough :...

 only two months after being signed by the rosanero. Zamparini answered to these criticisms by making the whole bid amounts in the seasons available to the public, in a very unusual move in Italy, noting his club was among the ones who spent the most money in order to sign new players.

On September 4, 2008, in what was promptly received as another controversial move, the club surprisingly announced the immediate dismissal of Stefano Colantuono
Stefano Colantuono
Stefano Colantuono is an Italian football manager, currently in charge as head coach of Atalanta.-Playing career:...

 from his position, making him the first head coach to be sacked in the whole Serie A season, contemporaneously announcing the appointment of Davide Ballardini
Davide Ballardini
Davide Ballardini is an Italian association football manager who is currently the head coach at Serie A club Cagliari...

 as new rosanero boss. Ballardini made his debut with an impressive 3–1 home win to AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

 on September 13.

Ballardini then followed up the next week by beating Genova 2-1, with centre back Cesare Bovo scored a winning goal from 26 meters out.

Palermo's wonderful form continued as they stopped Italian giants Juve 2-1, ending their unbeaten season. Miccoli scored a tap-in after Buffon deflected a volley from Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani. Newly acquired youngster Levan Mchedlidze scored in only his second-ever game in the Italian Serie A, grabbing Palermo a surprise win. Palermo then went on to achieve impressive wins to less exciting games, not performing particularly well in away matches. Namely, striking duo of Fabrizio Miccoli and Edinson Cavani proved to be instrumental to the rosaneros successes, with the former Benfica star establishing himself as team topscorer despite being limited by injuries.

Another fan favourite win came in a league match against A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

, with the rosanero showing probably one of their finest seasonal performances and defeating 3–1 the rossoneri, with goals by Miccoli, Cavani and Simplicio, and Sicilian goalkeeper Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.-Early career:Amelia grew up as part of the Roma youth system...

 being instrumental in the team win by saving a penalty shot by FIFA World Player winner Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...

.

In the January 2009 transfer window, Palermo opted to loan out all of their players who did not play regularly in the first half, namely Hernán Paolo Dellafiore
Hernán Paolo Dellafiore
Paolo Hernán Dellafiore is an Italian Argentine footballer, who plays as a central defender for Novara in a co-ownership deal with Parma.-Internazionale:...

, Andrea Raggi
Andrea Raggi
Andrea Raggi is an Italian football defender, currently playing for Bologna.-Empoli:He started his footballing career with Empoli, where he spent a total of four seasons with the first team.-Palermo:...

, Davide Lanzafame
Davide Lanzafame
Davide Lanzafame is an Italian football striker/winger, who currently plays for Calcio Catania, in a co-ownership with Palermo, in the Italian Serie A.-Juventus:...

 and Maurizio Ciaramitaro
Maurizio Ciaramitaro
Maurizio Ciaramitaro is an Italian football midfielder who plays for Modena.-Career:A Palermo youth system product, Ciaramitaro was however never constantly included into the first team and was instead often sent out on loan throughout his career: he had spells of such kind at Avellino, Livorno ,...

. The club, with Igor Budan
Igor Budan
Igor Budan is a Croatian football striker currently playing with U.S. Città di Palermo in Italy.-Career:Budan played for his native NK Rijeka for two seasons before moving to Italy in 1999. He was one of the players transferred to Palermo from Venezia in 2002 by Maurizio Zamparini...

 being unavailable for the whole season so far, was also linked with being interested to the likes of ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

 striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who was ultimately acquired by Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...

. Later in the market window, Palermo also announced the loan of Ciro Capuano
Ciro Capuano
Ciro Capuano is an Italian footballer presently playing for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A.-Empoli F.C.:...

 to Sicilian rivals Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...

, and the signing for free of Mirko Savini
Mirko Savini
Mirko Savini is an Italian footballer defender.-Career:Savini spent most of his early career playing at lower division level, and reached Serie B only in 2002 with Ascoli...

 from Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

, then completing the transfer session with two international youngsters, Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 full-back Michel Morganella
Michel Morganella
Michel Morganella is a Swiss footballer who plays as a defender for Novara, in a co-ownership agreement with Palermo. He is usually nicknamed "Train".-Football career:...

 and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

an striker Abel Hernández
Abel Hernández
Abel Mathías Hernández Platero is a Uruguayan football striker. He currently plays for Serie A club U.S. Città di Palermo and Uruguay national football team.-Club career:...

.

The club went on performing relatively well with several ups and downs, the bottom point being a shock 0–4 home loss to Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...

 in the Sicilian derby
Sicilian derby
The Derby di Sicilia is a local derby between Italian football clubs Calcio Catania and U.S. Città di Palermo. Catania and Palermo are the two main cities on the island of Sicily, and the teams are fierce rivals...

, which was promptly followed by a 2–0 win at ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

's home. Palermo also managed to come back from two goals down to achieve a 2–2 draw at San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...

 against José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....

's league leaders Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

 thanks to efforts from Edinson Cavani and backup striker Davide Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

. In the second part of the season, Palermo declared interest in fighting to take a UEFA Europa League 2009–10 spot, with Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

, league surprise Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....

 and Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...

 as main challengers.

On April 23, the Italian National Olympic Committee announced that Moris Carrozzieri
Moris Carrozzieri
Moris Carrozzieri is an Italian who currently plays as a football defender for Lecce.-Early career:Carrozzieri started his professional career at A.S. Bari...

 was found positive for cocaine as he failed a doping test made immediately after a home game against Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....

 on April 5. The physical centre-back was immediately suspended from football activities and is likely to face a long ban that could keep him off from the game for up to two years. According to Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini and sports director Walter Sabatini
Walter Sabatini
Walter Sabatini is an Italian former association football player turned director of football, currently working for Italian club AS Roma.He is the brother of Carlo Sabatini.-Playing career:...

, the player might likely have assumed cocaine during a night out in a club in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...

. Such events, which prived Palermo of one of the main defenders in the squad, were followed by a 0–3 loss to AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

, with two of the rossoneri goals being scored from controversial penalty kicks and Palermo reduced to 10 men after Cesare Bovo
Cesare Bovo
Cesare Bovo is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Genoa.-Lecce & youth career:Bovo grew up playing in the renowned AS Roma youth system, and was sold on a co-ownership bid to Serie B club Lecce in the 2002/2003 season, which Bovo was exchanged with Mauro Rizzo who both...

 was sent off minutes after the beginning of the second half; this brought to bitter criticism against the referee from Maurizio Zamparini, who also announced a one-day news blackout as a form of protest.

Confirmed summer transfer market bids

In
>

Out >


Out on loan
>

Confirmed winter transfer market bids

In >

Out on loan >

Player details

Season statistics

|-
|colspan="12"|Players sold or loaned out during the summer transfer market:
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|colspan="12"|Players sold or loaned out during the winter transfer market:
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Legend

Win Draw Loss

Serie A

DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendancePositionReport
August 30, 2008 – 18:00 Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....

Away Lost 1–3 Bresciano
Mark Bresciano
Mark "Marco" Bresciano is an Australian football player who is currently playing for UAE Pro-League side Al Nasr SC as a midfielder. He represented Australia at all youth levels, including appearances at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympic Games...

18
September 13, 2008 – 18:00 AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

Home Won 3–1 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

 (2), Cavani
September 21, 2008 – 15:00 Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...

Home Won 2–1 Bovo
Cesare Bovo
Cesare Bovo is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Genoa.-Lecce & youth career:Bovo grew up playing in the renowned AS Roma youth system, and was sold on a co-ownership bid to Serie B club Lecce in the 2002/2003 season, which Bovo was exchanged with Mauro Rizzo who both...

, Cavani
4
September 24, 2008 – 15:00 Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

Away Lost 2–1 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

September 28, 2008 – 15:00 Reggina
Reggina Calcio
Reggina Calcio are an Italian association football club, the main club of the city of Reggio Calabria. Founded in 1914, they currently play in the Italian Serie B, and play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo...

Home Won 1–0 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

October 5, 2008 – 15:00 Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

Away Won 2–1 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Mchedlidze
Levan Mchedlidze
Levan Mchedlidze is a Georgian professional football player who is currently playing with Italian club Empoli.- Career :...

October 19, 2008 - 15:00 Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...

Away Lost 0–2 Report
October 26, 2008 - 20:30 Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

Home Lost 1–3 Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

Report
October 29, 2008 – 20:30 Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....

Away Drew 1–1 Cavani Report
November 2, 2008 - 15:00 Chievo
A.C. ChievoVerona
Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona is a professional Italian football club named after and based in Chievo, a suburb of 2,800 inhabitants in Verona, Veneto, and owned by Paluani, a cake company and the inspiration for their original name, Paluani Chievo...

Home Won 3–0 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Kjær
Simon Kjær
Simon Thorup Kjær is a Danish professional football player, who plays as a centre back for Roma. He was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year and 2009 Danish Talent of the Year, and has played 20 games for the Denmark national football team.-FC Midtjylland:Born in Horsens, Kjær started...

, Cavani
Edison Cavani
Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez is a Uruguayan footballer with Italian origins. He currently plays as a striker forSerie A club S.S.C. Napoli. Cavani is nicknamed "El Matador" for his commanding presence.-Danubio:...

November 8, 2008 - 18:00 Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....

Away Lost 0–1 Report
November 15, 2008 - 20:30 Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

Home Lost 0–2 Report
November 23, 2008 - 15:00 Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...

Away Drew 1–1 Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

Report
November 30, 2008 - 20:30 AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

Home Won 3–1 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Cavani, Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

Report
December 7, 2008 - 15:00 Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....

Away Lost 0–1 Report
December 14, 2008 - 15:00 Siena
A.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....

Home Won 2–0 Cassani
Mattia Cassani
Mattia Cassani is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Fiorentina and the Italian national team.-Club career:Cassani started his career at Juventus and then left for Sampdoria on loan in January 2003...

, Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

Report
December 20, 2008 - 18:00 Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...

Away Lost 0–1 Report
January 11, 2009 - 15:00 Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...

Home Won 3–2 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Bresciano
Mark Bresciano
Mark "Marco" Bresciano is an Australian football player who is currently playing for UAE Pro-League side Al Nasr SC as a midfielder. He represented Australia at all youth levels, including appearances at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympic Games...

, Cavani
Report
January 18, 2009 - 15:00 Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...

Home Won 2–0 Bresciano
Mark Bresciano
Mark "Marco" Bresciano is an Australian football player who is currently playing for UAE Pro-League side Al Nasr SC as a midfielder. He represented Australia at all youth levels, including appearances at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympic Games...

 (2)
Report
January 25, 2009 - 15:00 Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....

Home Won 3–2 Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

 (2), Cavani
Report
January 28, 2009 - 20:30 AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...

Away Lost 1–2 Cavani Report
February 1, 2009 - 15:15 Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...

Away Lost 0–1 Report
February 8, 2009 - 20:30 Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

Home Won 2–1 Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio is an Italian football midfielder who currently plays for U.S. Città di Palermo in the Serie A league. He is nicknamed Diesel, for the resemblance to the actor Vin Diesel....

, Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

Report
February 15, 2009 - 15:00 Reggina
Reggina Calcio
Reggina Calcio are an Italian association football club, the main club of the city of Reggio Calabria. Founded in 1914, they currently play in the Italian Serie B, and play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo...

Away Drew 0–0 Report
February 21, 2009 - 20:30 Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...

Home Lost 0–2 Report
March 1, 2009 - 15:00 Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...

Home Lost 0–4 Report
March 8, 2009 - 15:00 Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...

Away Won 2–0 Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

, Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

Report
March 15, 2009 - 15:00 Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....

Home Won 5–2 Cavani (2), Simplício
Fábio Simplício
Fábio Henrique Simplício , better known as Fábio Simplício or just Simplício, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club A.S...

, Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Kjær
Simon Kjær
Simon Thorup Kjær is a Danish professional football player, who plays as a centre back for Roma. He was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year and 2009 Danish Talent of the Year, and has played 20 games for the Denmark national football team.-FC Midtjylland:Born in Horsens, Kjær started...

Report
March 22, 2009 - 15:00 Chievo
A.C. ChievoVerona
Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona is a professional Italian football club named after and based in Chievo, a suburb of 2,800 inhabitants in Verona, Veneto, and owned by Paluani, a cake company and the inspiration for their original name, Paluani Chievo...

Away Lost 0–1 Report
April 5, 2009 - 15:00 Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....

Home Won 1–0 Cavani Report
April 19, 2009 - 15:00 Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...

Away Drew 2–2 Cavani, Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

Report
April 19, 2009 - 15:00 Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...

Home Won 4–1 Belleri
Manuel Belleri
Manuel Belleri is an Italian football defender-Football career:Belleri started his career at Lumezzane. He played in Serie A for Empoli in the 2002–03 season. When Empoli failed to protect his place in 2004, Belleri, Di Natale and Emílson were sold to Udinese in a co-ownership deal, with Almirón...

 (own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....

), Kjær
Simon Kjær
Simon Thorup Kjær is a Danish professional football player, who plays as a centre back for Roma. He was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year and 2009 Danish Talent of the Year, and has played 20 games for the Denmark national football team.-FC Midtjylland:Born in Horsens, Kjær started...

, Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

, Cavani
Report
April 26, 2009 - 15:00 AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

Away Lost 0–3 Report
May 3, 2009 - 15:00 Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....

Home Won 5–1 Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio is an Italian football midfielder who currently plays for U.S. Città di Palermo in the Serie A league. He is nicknamed Diesel, for the resemblance to the actor Vin Diesel....

, Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco is an Italian former footballer in the role of centre midfielder, currently in charge as youth coach of U.S. Città di Palermo.-Club career:...

, Cavani, Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

Report
May 10, 2009 - 15:00 Siena
A.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....

Away Lost 0–1 Report
May 17, 2009 - 15:00 Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...

Home Won 2–0 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio
Giulio Migliaccio is an Italian football midfielder who currently plays for U.S. Città di Palermo in the Serie A league. He is nicknamed Diesel, for the resemblance to the actor Vin Diesel....

Report
May 24, 2009 - 15:00 Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...

Away Drew 2–2 Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

, Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

Report
May 31, 2009 - 15:00 Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...

Home Drew 2–2 Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli
Fabrizio Miccoli is an Italian football striker who currently is playing for Serie A team Palermo.-Early years:After playing at youth level with Milan, he returned to his native Apulia in 1995 to join Serie C1 team Casarano, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17...

, Succi
Davide Succi
Davide Succi is an Italian footballer, who plays for Padova, on loan from Palermo. His nickname is Il cigno o Pazzucci.-Career:...

Report

Coppa Italia

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport
August 23, 2008 – 20:30 Third Round Ravenna
Ravenna Calcio
Ravenna Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1913 and refounded in 2001....

Home Lost 1–2 Cavani
Edison Cavani
Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez is a Uruguayan footballer with Italian origins. He currently plays as a striker forSerie A club S.S.C. Napoli. Cavani is nicknamed "El Matador" for his commanding presence.-Danubio:...

16,000 (Report)
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